British troops making progress in Afghanistan, says Douglas Alexander

British troops are making progress in Afghanistan both militarily and in rebuilding the country, according to the International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander.

By Aislinn Simpson

11:40AM BST 30 Jun 2008

Speaking from Lashkar Gar during a visit to inspect development projects, Mr Alexander said he was "extraordinarily proud" of British forces and what they have achieved.

His comments come shortly after the 110th service person was killed in the wartorn country since the US-led invasion in 2001, the 13th in just 10 days.

The MoD is expected to name the latest soldier, who was killed by a landmine thought to have been left over from the Soviet occupation, within days.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence named Warrant Officer 2nd Class Dan Shirley, 32, as one of the most recent soldiers killed when his open-topped Land Rover rolled as he travelled between Sangin and Camp Bastion.

Mr Alexander insisted that the heavy losses experienced by British forces were not in vain.

He said: "I've heard already of the more than six million children who are now in school.

"That's two million of them young girls, compared with a figure of 900,000 boys in 2001 when the Taliban didn't feel the need for girls to go to school.

"We've seen real improvements also in terms of healthcare and in terms of the economy. So I'm encouraged by what I've seen at the same time as feeling extraordinary pride and admiration in the work of our service personnel."

During his visit to the country, which began on Sunday, he announced that Britain will provide £30m funding towards an initiative encouraging business investment in Afghanistan.

The UK will work with companies such as Roshan, Afghanistan's largest mobile phone company, independent broadcaster Tolo TV, the Aga Khan Development Network, and the US and Afghan Governments to reform and improve the way people do business in the country.

Mr Alexander said: "We have already seen significant economic progress since 2001: average incomes have more than doubled, the economy has grown on average by 15 per cent a year since 2002 and private sector investment reached $1 billion per year in 2006.

"Development of the private sector is the only way to provide jobs and income for the 65 per cent of the Afghan population who are under 25 years old."